Monday, February 17, 2014

#WriterRecharge

We'd like to invite you to join us for Writer Recharge 2014, a month-long motivational challenge similar to last summer's Ready. Set. Write! So many of us benefited from setting goals, connecting with other writers, and social media-based accountability. So, hey, let's do it again! Whether you're delighting next to the crackling fireplace of a Shiny New Idea with a warm cup of tea and a sleepy puppy at your feet or spinning out on the ice-covered roads of revisions in an attempt to avoid the snow-packed ditch, we want to write with you! What do you want to accomplish this month? Hit a daily word count? Revise a certain number of pages or chapters each week? Complete a draft by the end of the month? Let's get this party started!

Have completed editing part 1 changes; mostly done on part 2, which required adding several new scenes and re-organizing others.

Last week, I reduced the word count by 4k by cutting earlier chapter/scenes and re-organizing. Added about 2,500 words by expanding part 2.

Next goal: Determine which scenes in part 3 stay or go; combine scenes, reduce secondary character subplot that takes away from MC's plot. Keep what is essential and what maintains story momentum. I think this coming week is going to be rough....

After all parts have been reordered, go through entire MS to cut, tweak, etc.

I picked up more editing tips at my RWA meeting last week. Jade Lee spoke highly of a course she took though Savvy Authors, which is pay-as-you-go online writing craft courses. I have not taken any from them, but quite a few of my RWA friends have. It's a nice alternative if you aren't plugged into a writing group and if you can't swing a conference. I've used Jade's crafting advice from seeing her at RWA last year. I was impressed that she takes writing courses along with unpublished authors since she is seeking to grow and challenge herself.

Check out the twitter tag #WriterRecharge for more writing motivation this month!

10 comments:

Sounds like you are doing great! I always dread those edits I know will be tough - mainly because of self-confidence issues - but I just tell myself that any progress is progress and that usually helps me get through it. Good luck this week!

You seem to have a solid handle on what needs to be done Stephanie, and your progress so far shows you know what you're doing. The coming week may look rough, but I'm confident you'll succeed more than you hoped. :)

I've taken a few courses through Savvy Authors and I've really liked them. One was mentored by romance writer Lori Wilde and lasted a few months. I wrote a full novel and got her feedback repeatedly. It was awesome! Way to go with your editing. I get so much pleasure from cutting words. My manuscript always reads as so much tighter when I do. Best of luck with your goals this week, Stephanie!

That's a tough call. For me the benefit is the local connection. I have a very active chapter that meets twice a month most months, with guest speakers and writing workshops. I also put together an in-person critique group. I suppose it matters where you are as a writer and what you're looking for. If you're starting at square 1 and haven't yet explored online writing courses, and you are looking to connect specifically to the romance writing community, it may be worth it even if you don't have a nearby local chapter. With membership, RWA has many free online courses, while others are about $10. I just took one from Kelley Armstrong who writes Urban Fantasy and it was really good. You would recieve discounts on the national conference and chapter contest fees, though the overal membership fee might not be worth those discounts.

There are plenty of sources online that might cost you less given you won't have the benefit of in-person groups. Savvy Authors has regular online craft workshops, and you probably are networking with bloggers already if you found mine through writer recharge. Write On Con is a good free online conference in August (for kidlit writers), and WANACON is coming up I think this weekend, online (not free) writing workshop--see Kristen Lamb's Warrior Writers blog for more details.